Good morning, I am asking for advice on what to buy or rent for my 12-year-old daughter who has been taking lessons for about 2 years. So far she has practiced (little) on a keyboard. Since we still don't know if and how much she will continue playing, they were thinking of renting a piano or getting a digital piano which seems easier to transport (we live on the 5th floor) and requires no maintenance. Furthermore, it seems "easier" to me to resell in case my daughter gets tired of playing. We were leaning towards a rental acoustic, but I have doubts that the quality of the pianos they rent is poor (SAMICK - JS 118 SD or Yamaha U1H) compared to a good digital one. The teacher advises against digital because it is not a "real" piano, but I have seen that some exist (like the Kawai CA67) that have parts of a real piano which, in the end, might even be better than an acoustic. Could someone please advise us? Thank you. Luca
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nancy
Member
Reply 2 by nancy
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521
The choice between a digital and an acoustic one causes a crisis for many.
Today there are excellent digitals with "mechanisms" that provide great satisfaction, but in my opinion, the only reason I would opt for a digital is the impossibility of playing without disturbing others. If you don't have the problem of uncompromising neighbors or similar things... I would undoubtedly opt for the acoustic because as good and convenient as a digital may be (maintenance, portability, etc.), it is still a different instrument; moreover, starting to study and understand certain mechanisms, as well as falling in love with the piano and deciding whether to continue or not, cannot be separated from playing and studying on an acoustic piano. At least in my opinion!
The primary problem, when acquiring a real piano, is not the transport to the fifth floor because nowadays specialized companies all have tracked dollies capable of climbing stair steps. Rather than the number of steps, it is perhaps a matter of their width (in corner landings between one flight and another).
The more serious matter lies primarily in having a consenting neighborhood, as Nancy has already pointed out. If there were no problems on this side, a real piano, even if of "normal" quality, is a whole different world compared to a digital one.
It is something... real: wood, metal, vibrations, nuances of sound... Clearly, such an important instrument/piece of furniture must be played regularly to justify its (generally) intrusive presence in the living room or bedroom.
It is not excluded that the reason for your daughter's lack of commitment at home is precisely the limited tonal and tactile range of the player piano, a situation far removed from the piano she plays with her teacher; in that case, the presence of a real piano could spark her passion and therefore her commitment even at home.
On the other hand, it could be that music is not particularly to her liking, and that it probably will never be her favorite passion/hobby. She is quite old now; go deep with her on this subject, try to intuit from her words and attitude what potential lies in the matter.
In my opinion, it would be best for you to rent a real piano, with the possibility of converting the contract into a purchase at a later date.
I am for the acoustic piano, especially if one is learning. The reference is the acoustic one. Digital is very convenient and I use it often, but it is not a good reference for those who study and must learn to understand the mechanics of the piano. All piano technique and therefore piano gesture have developed around the acoustic piano, and this should be preferred for those approaching piano studies.
